UL cornerback Michael Jacquet III and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke get some air celebrating during a 36-22 win over Georgia State on Saturday's Military Appreciation Day at Cajun Field.(Photo: Michael O. Curley)

“It’s the time of the year where at some point or another you’ve got to develop a level of belief that you can do it,” UL coach Billy Napier said. “You know, you’ve got to start playing like you’re capable of playing.

“I think we have lots of good players. We have enough parts to get it done every week. But it’s about those guys believing in themselves, believing in the time and effort that they put into it and it paying off.”

Believing like you think you can win the lottery, except with a real chance to win.

And as it turned out, the ticket bought Friday wound up paying off big for Napier’s club on Saturday night.

UL beat Georgia State 36-22, leaving the Cajuns — who have games left Saturday at home against 2-8 South Alabama and on Nov. 24 at 6-4 UL Monroe — one victory shy of becoming bowl-eligible for the second time in three seasons and for the sixth time in eight seasons.

Moreover, UL can guarantee itself a spot in the Dec. 1 Sun Belt Conference championship — the league’s first-ever title game — by beating both South Al and ULM.

Win two, and the Cajuns would go to the SBC game as Sun Belt West Division champs — even after West-member Arkansas State crunched Coastal Carolina 44-16 and West-leader ULM sloshed South Alabama 38-10 on Saturday.

All this from a UL team that opened 1-3, including road losses to nationally ranked Mississippi State and Alabama, and that was upset by Coastal Carolina in its Sun Belt opener.

“So, we’ve got to appreciate where we’re at and the opportunities that we have,” Napier said. “It’s almost like we’ve been forgiven.

“We’ve had a few miscues, but we’re still in contention. So let’s be grateful for that, and let’s try to capture that and really get in position where we can make the most of it.”

“You know, you can put the ball down and basically impose your will — and the other team has no choice, you know? So, that’s the objective.”

Napier doesn’t feel UL has done that yet this season, not even in a 66-38 win over New Mexico State.

That’s because the Aggies put some points late in that one.

“We just need to continue to improve, continue to eliminate the deficiencies,” Napier said. “Communicate better. Less mental errors. And try to execute at a higher rate in every area, you know?

“If we could have had one of those marquee nights on offense (Saturday), we could have really had a dominant day.

“But we’re yet to do that, and that’s what I’m looking forward to, is seeing our team play at a really high level in all three phases and go out there and dominate a game,” Napier added despite the fact his offense produced a season-high 355 rushing yards against the Panthers. “That’s the objective at this point.”

UL's Chauncey Manac (17) and Corey Turner (6) work together to take down the Georgia State runner as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Raymond Calais runs the ball down the sidelines and into the end zone as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Johnny Lumpkin defends the line during the extra-point kick as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's quarterback Andre Nunez (7) fakes a hand-off to Elijah Mitchell (15) during the play as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Michael Jacquet III celebrates on the field after a successful stop as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Elijah Mitchell runs the ball along the sidelines before being pushed out of bounds as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Elijah Mitchell dives into the end zone to score a touchdown as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Michael Jacquet III (11) celebrates his interception with Kamar Greenhouse (9) as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's head football coach Billy Napier watches the game from the sidelines as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

UL's Raymond Calais celebrates his touchdown with his teammates in the end zone as the Ragin' Cajuns play against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser